Factor Five

"As economic, environmental, and security imperatives converge, advanced resource productivity is quickly rising to the top of the global agenda. But let's make no little plans: new technologies, artfully combined via integrative design, can now quintuple the work wrung from energy, water, and other resources. Building on our 1997 collaboration in Factor Four, and cross-pollinating with new findings from around the world, this exciting synthesis combines a powerful efficiency toolkit with farsighted policy insights - vital to ensure that efficiency's gains are not offset but reinforced to create a richer, fairer, safer, and cooler world." Amory B. Lovins, Chairman and Chief Scientist, Rocky Mountain Institute, USA, Co-Author of 'Factor Four' "This book shows once again, even to the most conservative critics, that not only are significant improvements possible, they are profitable, and when coupled with the understanding that reducing environmental devastation is critical, provide a vital message of hope for the future." Hunter Lovins, President, Natural Capitalism Solutions, Co-Author of 'Factor Four' "The fivefold increase of resource productivity described in this book is impressive, but perfectly feasible, and it would give the world a bit more time to learn how to adapt." Dennis Meadows, Co-author Limits to Growth and 2009 Japan Prize Laureate "The exciting thing about Factor Five is the combination of boldness and realism, precisely what is needed to get civilization back onto an economic path that is environmentally sustainable." Lester R. Brown, President, Earth Policy Institute "The potential to reduce emissions by 80% on an economically viable basis is good news for world leaders and their negotiators on climate change." Dr R K Pachauri, Chairman, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) "Factor Five is the clearest non-partisan handbook on ecological renaissance available to date and should be read by every policymaker and practitioner." Professor Calestous Juma, Harvard Kennedy School "The arrival of Factor Five couldn't be more timely - or more significant." Jonathon Porritt, Founding Director, Forum for the Future, UK "The mounting concern about climate change has distracted attention from the fact that CO2 emissions are just part of the existential problem facing humanity. We need urgently to reduce our use of ALL the resources, not just fossil fuels. This new book is the best point of departure I know for doing that. The fivefold increase of resource productivity it describes is impressive, but perfectly feasible, and it would give the world a bit more time to learn how to adapt to ecological collapse. The book has two especially important innovations. The authors deal seriously with the rebound effect, and they base their scenarios on a long term trajectory of rising energy prices." Dennis Meadows, Co-author Limits to Growth and 2009 Japan Prize Laureate "Is it possible to imagine a world where we can actually phase out fossil fuels before the climate phases us out? It's now feasible by reading Factor Five." Peter Newman, Professor of Sustainability, Curtin University and author of Resilient Cities "[There can be] no sustainable development without a sustainable development of companies. Factor Five provides compelling arguments and examples that sustainable business is achievable and profitable on a large scale and that companies play a key role in creating sustainable development. Factor Five confirms the crucial role of increasing eco-efficiency to foster sustainable development." Stefan Schaltegger, Professor of Sustainability Management, Leuphana University, Germany "The world needs radical eco-innovation to shape an opportunity out of the current crisis. This book provides excellent key examples

Professor Ernst von Weizsacker is Co-Chair, International Panel on Sustainable Resource Management. He is also the lead author of Factor Four (Earthscan 1998). Karlson Charlie Hargroves, Michael H. Smith, Peter Stasinopoulos and Cheryl Desha are members of The Natural Edge Project, a Sustainability Think-Tank hosted by Griffith University and the Australian National University.

Introduction by Ernst von Weizsacker - Factor 5: A Global Imperative Part I: A Whole System Approach to Factor 5, by The Natural Edge Project Preface to the Sector Studies 1. A Framework for Factor 5 2. The Buildings Sector 3. The Heavy Industry Sector 4. The Agricultural Sector 5. The Transport Sector Part II: Making it Happen, by Ernst von Weizs cker 6. Regulation: The Visible Hand 7. Economic Instruments for the Environment, for Efficiency and for Renewable Energies 8. Addressing the Rebound Dilemma 9. A Long-Term Ecological Tax Reform 10. Balancing Public with Private Goods 11. Sufficiency in a Civilised World